Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Policy
Purpose
All goods and services provided by Chicopee will follow the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity.
This policy meets the requirements of the Customer Service and Integrated Standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. It applies to the provision of goods and services to the public or other third parties, including all employment services.
Definitions
Assistive device: A technical aid, communication device, or other instrument that is used to maintain or improve the functional abilities of people with disabilities. Personal assistive devices are typically devices that customers bring with them, such as a wheelchair, walker, or a personal oxygen tank, and that might assist in hearing, seeing, communicating, moving, breathing, remembering, or reading.
Disability: As defined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Ontario Human Rights Code, refers to:
- Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation, or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect, or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device;
- A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;
- A learning disability, or dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;
- A mental disorder; or
- An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.
Guide dog: A highly trained working dog that has been trained at one of the facilities listed in Ontario Regulation 58 under the Blind Persons’ Rights Act, to provide mobility, safety, and increased independence for people who are blind.
Service animal: A service animal for a person with a disability if:
- The animal can be readily identified as one that is being used by the person for reasons relating to the person’s disability, as a result of visual indicators such as the vest or harness worn by the animal; or
- The person provides documentation from a member of one of the following regulated health professional colleges confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability:
- College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario;
- College of Chiropractors of Ontario;
- College of Nurses of Ontario;
- College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario;
- College of Optometrists of Ontario;
- College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario;
- College of Physiotherapists of Ontario;
- College of Psychologists of Ontario; or
- College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario.
Support person: In relation to a person with a disability, another person who accompanies them in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care, medical needs, or access to goods and services.
Customer Service Standard Guidelines
The Provision of Goods and Services to Persons with Disabilities
Chicopee will make every reasonable effort to ensure that its policies, practices, and procedures are consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration, and equal opportunity by:
- Ensuring that all customers receive the same value and quality;
- Allowing customers with disabilities to do things in their own ways, at their own pace when accessing goods and services, as long as this does not present a health and safety risk;
- Using alternative methods when possible to ensure that customers with disabilities have access to the same services, in the same place and in a similar manner;
- Taking into account individual accommodation needs when providing goods and services; and
- Communicating in a manner that takes into account the customer’s disability.
Communication
Chicopee will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that consider their disability. We will train all employees, volunteers, policy developers, and agents providing goods, services, or facilities on behalf of Chicopee on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities.
The Use of Assistive Devices
Customer’s Own Assistive Devices
Persons with disabilities may use their own assistive devices as required when accessing goods or services provided by the company.
In cases where the assistive device presents a health and safety concern or where accessibility might be an issue, other reasonable measures will be used to ensure the access of goods and services, up to the point of undue hardship.
For example, open flames and oxygen tanks cannot be near one another. Therefore, the accommodation of a customer with an oxygen tank might involve ensuring the customer is in a location that would be considered safe for both the customer and business.
Alternatively, where elevators are not present and where a customer requires assistive devices for the purposes of mobility, service will be provided in a location that meets the needs of the customer.
Billing
Chicopee is committed to providing accessible invoices to all of our customers. For this reason, invoices will be provided in hard copy, large print, email, etc. upon request. We will answer any questions customers may have about the content of the invoice in person, by telephone, or email.
Guide Dogs and Service Animals
A customer with a disability who is accompanied by a guide dog or service animal will be allowed access to premises that are open to the public unless otherwise excluded by law. “No pet” policies do not apply to guide dogs or service animals.
Staff may respectfully ask if an animal is a service animal and will not ask the nature of the person’s disability or purpose of the animal.
Food Service Areas
A customer with a disability who is accompanied by guide dog or service animal will be allowed access to food service areas that are open to the public unless otherwise excluded by law.
Other types of service animals are only permitted into areas where food is served, sold, or offered for sale due to the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Ontario Regulation 493/17.
Exclusion Guidelines
If a customer’s guide dog or service animal is excluded by law (see applicable laws below), Chicopee will offer alternative methods to enable the person with a disability to access goods and services, when possible. For example, the company might accommodate a customer’s disability by securing the animal in a safe location and offering the assistance of an employee to facilitate the delivery of goods and services.
Applicable Laws
Dog Owners’ Liability Act, 2005: If there is a conflict between a provision of this legislation or of a regulation under this or any other act relating to banned breeds and a provision of a by-law passed by a municipality relating to these breeds, the provision that is more restrictive in relation to controls or bans on these breeds prevails. Staff will respectfully explain that the service animal must be removed from the public area due to a municipal by-law and make alternate arrangements or provide the service outside the public area.
Recognizing a Guide Dog or Service Animal:
If it is not readily apparent that the animal is being used by the customer for reasons relating to their disability, Chicopee may request verification from the customer.
Care and Control of the Animal:
The customer who is accompanied by a guide dog or service animal is responsible for maintaining care and control of the animal at all times.
Allergies and Other Health and Safety Concerns
If a health and safety concern presents itself, for example, in the form of a severe allergy to the animal, Chicopee will make all reasonable efforts to meet the needs of all individuals. Pursuant to the company’s obligations under the Human Rights Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, each customer’s accommodation needs will be considered on a case-by-case basis, up to the point of undue hardship.
Due diligence needs to be paid to address health and safety requirements. For example, if a person’s health and safety could be seriously affected by the presence of a service animal on the premises open to the public, management must fully analyse all options for safely accommodating the service animal. Options could include creating distance between the two individuals to eliminate in-person contact, changing the time the two individuals receive service, or using air purifiers and other measures that could allow the person to use their service animal on the premises.
In very exceptional circumstances where a service animal becomes out of control, causing a clear disruption or a threat to the health and safety of others, and the animal’s behaviour is not corrected by the owner, a person with a disability can be asked to remove their service animal from the premises.
As a courtesy, particularly if the person and service animal have been in attendance on the premises for a long time, staff may ask whether the animal requires water, may designate an area in which the service animal can relieve itself, or ask whether the staff can be of assistance pertaining to the service animal.
The Use of Support Persons
If a customer with a disability is accompanied by a support person, Chicopee will ensure that both persons may enter the premises together and that the customer is not prevented from having access to the support person.
There may be times where seating and availability prevent the customer and support person from sitting beside each other. In these situations, the company will make every reasonable attempt to resolve the issue.
In situations where confidential information might be discussed, consent will be obtained from the customer before any potentially confidential information is mentioned.
Admission Fees
Where the company requires a support person to accompany a person with a disability, and where the person with a disability has agreed to the accompaniment, the company will not charge the support person any fees or fares.
Notice of Disruptions in Service
Service disruptions may occur for reasons that may or may not be within the control or knowledge of Chicopee. In the event of any temporary disruptions to facilities or services that customers with disabilities rely on to access or use goods or services, reasonable efforts will be made to provide advance notice. In some circumstances, such as in the situation of unplanned temporary disruptions, advance notice may not be possible.
If a notification needs to be posted, the following information will be included unless it is not readily available or known:
- Goods or services that are disrupted or unavailable;
- Reason for the disruption;
- Anticipated duration; and
- A description of alternative services or options.
Notification Options
When disruptions occur, Chicopee will provide notice by:
- Posting notices in conspicuous places, including at the point of disruption, at the main entrance, and the nearest accessible entrance to the service disruption, or on the company website;
- Contacting customers with appointments;
- Verbally notifying customers when they make a reservation or appointment; or
- By any other method that may be reasonable under the circumstances.
Integrated Standard Guidelines
Hiring Standards
- Chicopee is committed to finding and employing the appropriate person for the job regardless of the presence of any potential disability. We will advertise all jobs in ways that allow persons of all abilities to identify opportunities and apply regardless of their abilities;
- All job applicants will be notified verbally or in writing of the availability of accommodations for applicants with a disability that may or may not be visible’
- Applicants will be informed that accommodations will be available upon request for interviews, testing, and other selection methods; and
- All successful applicants will be made aware of the policies and support for accommodating employees with disabilities.
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
- Upon request Chicopee will provide accessible formats and communication support for information needed for an employee to do their job and information that is generally available to all employees.
- Chicopee is committed to providing fully accessible telephone service to our customers and potential employees.
Documented Individual Accommodation Plans
- Chicopee is committed to working with any employees who identify as having a disability. As such we will work with employees to develop and implement a process for documenting individual accommodation plans for employees where required. The company will work with the employee in the development of a plan that meets their individual needs and will also work with the employee to determine when the plan should be reviewed or updated.
- Chicopee will ensure that steps are taken to protect the privacy of the employee’s personal information and that all means of accommodation are based on the employee’s accessibility needs.
Plans and Processes
- Chicopee will tailor workplace response plans to accommodate people with disabilities. The company will also provide this information to employees with disabilities upon request and all steps will be taken to ensure the privacy of the individual’s personal information.
Feedback
Chicopee shall provide individuals with the opportunity to provide feedback on the service provided to individuals with disabilities. Information about the feedback process will be readily available to all individuals and notice of the process will be made available on the Company Website. Feedback forms, along with alternate methods of providing feedback verbally (in person or by telephone) or written (handwritten, delivered, website, or e-mail), will be available upon request.
Submitting Feedback
Customers can submit feedback to:
Liz Wadeson, Director Guest Experience and Administration
519-894-5610 x231
396 Morrison Road, Kitchener ON N2A 2Z6
Liz@chicopee.ca
Individuals who wish to provide feedback verbally can do so to any Chicopee Director, Supervisor, or Manager.
Individuals who provide formal feedback will receive acknowledgement of their feedback, along with any resulting actions based on concerns or complaints that were submitted.
Training
Training will be provided to:
- Every employee or volunteer with Chicopee;
- Every person who participates in developing the policies of Chicopee; and
- Every other person who provides goods, services, or facilities on behalf of Chicopee.
Training Provisions
Regardless of the format, training will cover the following:
- A review of the purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005;
- A review of the requirements of the Customer Service and Integrated Standards;
- Instructions on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities;
- Instructions on how to interact with people with disabilities who:
- Use assistive devices;
- Require the assistance of a guide dog or other service animal; or
- Require the use of a support person (including the handling of admission fees);
- Instructions on how to use equipment or devices that are available at our premises or that we provide that may help people with disabilities;
- Instructions on what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty accessing our services; and
- Policies, procedures, and practices of the company pertaining to providing accessible customer service to customers with disabilities.
Training Schedule
Chicopee will provide training as soon as practicable. Training will be provided to new employees, volunteers, and agents as part of our onboarding process. Revised training will be provided in the event of changes to legislation, procedures, policies, or practices.
Record of Training
Chicopee will keep a record of training that includes the dates training was provided.
Administration
If you have any questions or concerns about this policy or its related procedures, please contact:
Liz Wadeson, Director Guest Experience and Administration
519-894-5610 x231
396 Morrison Road, Kitchener ON N2A 2Z6
Liz@chicopee.ca
This policy and its related procedures will be reviewed as required in the event of legislative changes or changes to company procedures.